Christmas? I can't even think about Labor Day (September holiday here) yet! I have two birthdays and the christening of my youngest grandchild this month. I can't get that far ahead of myself or I'll forget something. We've got birthdays in every month in this family and I'm forever shopping for someone it seems. Not that I mind that! LOL

Me too Lighter, from March onwards it's been birthdays communions, confirmations etc. I enjoy shopping for other people. Have made a Christmas wish list and put a few things on lay away. This year is disappearing too quickly

One of my sisters is like Jo, already done for Christmas by Sept or October at the latest and I'm always amazed. But I tell her all the "good sales" are for the people like me...last minute shoppers who don't start until after Thanksgiving Day. (another holiday here in the States) And you miss out on all the holiday cheer and beautiful decorations that are there when shopping during the season. But she does it EVERY year, hates the crowds...so it works for her I guess! LOL

Yes that's right. I panic too. Well, I paniced when I read "August Chit Chat" I was like what ...AUGUST ALREADY. Oh ....I don't know how to plan tomorrow, next weekend. Next week. Next month oh well...I can't plan my life LOL

But for sure I will not miss Christmas shopping. I will start when all the stuff is coming out which is soon I guess. But I will avoid weekends Christmas shopping as I'm scared to get killed. But for now Lets' enjoy the summer.......

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I tell you there is no bigger rush than shopping on Christmas Eve with the crowds trying to find that one last present you want to buy, gets the blood flowing. One year I bought everything in the mid year sales, but all my kids changed their letters to Santa in October when a whole slew of new toys were advertised. Frustrating, don't do that anymore.

Love you ladies but not enjoying the conversation at the moment I am in the middle of packing up the house to move from one side of the country to the other. If you must continue 'that' particular topic can I request you do so in code, if only for the next few weeks.

That's the ticket! You take the hot bath and dose yourself out with whatever it takes and then go do battle! We're all here rooting for you! HA!

But seriously, it's such a drag when one gets sick and then the others catch it! Hope they'll all be feeling better soon.

Thanks Lorna - the only thing they have perfected sharing - germs!! They were kind to me, finally got the last one re-settled by 1.00am, got some sleep (bonus!) before I woke up with all 3 in my bed. Mainly concerned about our eldest whose asthma is acting up, hopefully he will avoid another trip to the hospital.

On a separate note applied for a full-time job but my heart is not in it - I don't have a lot of support nearby so if they are sick I would have to take the day off and that gets old very quick with some employers. Oh well shall see how it pans out.

Yep no doubt I will miss it - Ive heard that from all my sibs whose children are all grown up - that they especially miss the time when they came home and were almost knocked down at the door by the kids who were excited to see them. And now they have become virtual taxi drivers and walking ATM machines dispensing money.

Luckily I don't need to go back to work however an opportunity has presented itself, got me thinking, however not sure if Im at all pleased with the impact it will have on all of us.

It's a tricky one isn't it cos if it's something you really want to do, then in theory you'll find a way.

I gave up the Big Job, cos I wouldn't have seen anything of the children if I hadn't, and my family was miles away - and in any case, I always took the view that they had their own lives too. So teaching turned out to the best choice.........

Yep me too, turned my back very happily on an excellent career to embark on motherhood - Ive never fallen for the "you can have it all" mentality - its impossible to give 100% to a job and the same to your family - there is always compromise and sacrifice - so I decided 8 years ago, Id rather give 100% to my children (or at least try) hence my conflicted mind. Im becoming more interested in returning to work however really need to weigh up the impact.

Katie... "Christmas arranged already? Bloody hell, Joanna! I though I was being super organised by thinking about beginning to talk to family about maybe possibily arranging a holiday in November!"

Yes you are well organised. LolWe're having a "non family" Christmas away, in West Wales by the sea. So had to find a good bungalow to rent which is dog friendly and has wifi etc etc. Once found it had to be booked immediately ! Lol No shopping done yet though I'm happy to say !

Theminis...I worked but only part time, which my career options were probably different than most because in accounting you can work part time, even in public accounting like I did for the last 20 years of my career, until my youngest entered high school. So I worked when the children were in school and I left the office to pick them up after school and then I still had the flexibility to also get involved at the parish and school level, for my involvement in religious education classes, community/social issues and arts alive activities. My children's births were spaced far apart to begin with, so that made it easier to do.

Yes I could easily do part-time, there are many school hour roles in my field, and with that option Im only paying childcare for 1 child, upwards of $500.00 a week - its ridiculously expensive here for childcare, even with rebates. That idea does appeal to me, would just need to weigh up all the factors. My 2 oldest who are 6 and 7 feel tell me that they feel sad for their friends that are in after-school care as they don't get to come home with their Mummy, so yeah guess that's a bit hint!!

Just stopping by to let everybody know that I am totally lovesick, crying day and night, working and eating hardly possible.Within a few days I transformed into a miserable living wreck.I hate my life.

Dior that's terrible, do eat more and try and cry less - a cure for lovesickness is to go out and start all over again!!

Re above comments - from the age of 2 my Dad raised us alone after Mum died, that's me and 5 older brothers/sisters. He worked all manner of shifts but I do remember in primary school I would come home, he was sleeping (he worked nightshift) and I would leave a note on the table saying where I was - 99% of the time I actually was where I said, so he trusted me. I was supposed to wait for my older brother to come home and watch me but a lot of the time he did his own thing. All my friends were incredibly jealous of my freedom but where did I spend most afternoons? At my best friends house with her stay at home, getting spoiled with snacks and all the attention in the world. I craved it and I was so jealous she had a Mum waiting for her every day. So for me when my kids are older I wouldn't like to think of them sitting here at home wishing I was there - how awful. So I guess I have decided, its part-time for me.

We just experienced a power outage for over an hour - house got too cold - worst of all couldn't re-charge the kids DS's there was almost a mutiny - so I made them a cubby house out of chairs and sheets and off they went happily - phew

Katie that would an entire thread on its own. My last employer was very open to part-time, and definitely thought that women should have the option to work and be with their children at the same time - so she had set up a nursery in the office for those that had newborns etc - however SHE as the leading partner in the firm, well they are few and far between. At the same time though, not sure how much work you would get done, but at least it was an option given.

@ Katie....here in the States, the employers would rather people worked part time, so they don't have to pay them benefits. I was always on my husband's insurance but I had a good deal with my employers for part time vacation and sick pay hours commensurate with the number of regular working hours worked. Most part timers don't get any benefits, so you really have to think it through. It worked for me because I didn't want to deal with having after school care...it costs a fortune and people don't take care of your children the way you do, so there's that for theminis to think about too.

A lot of large corporations have chosen to open day care for the newborns and young children for their working new mothers but it doesn't really address the after school care that most working mothers have to arrange.

True Lighter - its the after or before school care that concerns me also - its run by the school with oursourced carers who are qualified but its the cost and quality of care they would be receiving. I know some of the children in after school care and they are not happy about it, would rather go home. So if I do anything it will be part time, just to get my foot back in the door.

@theminis...I just recently took on a client who needed his accounting software and recordkeeping updated and after having not worked for quite a few years now and it feels SO GOOD to engage one's brain again! You feel like the whole world is passing you by when you're not involved in something worthwhile, no matter how busy you can keep yourself at home. Most everyone I know is still working and it makes it lonely at times. And I do have charities, political activism, etc. but still, getting paid for your efforts does something for your self worth and your psyche, that you just can't put a price on! LOL

Dior wrote:Just stopping by to let everybody know that I am totally lovesick, crying day and night, working and eating hardly possible.Within a few days I transformed into a miserable living wreck.I hate my life.

I know the feeling, Dior. Cuts deep like a knife. "Crepacuore" that I mentioned.Mine has lasted over two years intensely. Never before...Each situation is different though. Analyse yours & see who was to blame.But to prevent yourself from spiralling into abysmal pain like I did, try to find someone better who values your worth. I tried & dated, but my heart was elsewhere. Time heals. Not for me yet, but I'm sensitive.Like you, I can't fully function, concentrate, sleep & eat either too much or too little. Lately not at all...

If it was true love, then give it time. For me, it was like a magnetic pull luring me back.Bisous

Dior wrote:Just stopping by to let everybody know that I am totally lovesick, crying day and night, working and eating hardly possible.Within a few days I transformed into a miserable living wreck.I hate my life.

I know the feeling, Dior. Cuts deep like a knife. "Crepacuore" that I mentioned.Mine has lasted over two years intensely. Never before...Each situation is different though. Analyse yours & see who was to blame.But to prevent yourself from spiralling into abysmal pain like I did, try to find someone better who values your worth. I tried & dated, but my heart was elsewhere. Time heals. Not for me yet, but I'm sensitive.Like you, I can't fully function, concentrate, sleep & eat either too much or too little. Lately not at all...

If it was true love, then give it time. For me, it was like a magnetic pull luring me back.Bisous

Thank you so much for your kind words. It's not that I jumped into that black hole, it came from above. Suddenly, unexpected and mean...